FAQs

Click on one of the questions below to reveal the answer.

What is it?

The Autism Show is the national event for autism (including Asperger syndrome). It is the largest event in the country dedicated to the autism community, offering information, advice, products and services on the condition.

Why was it created?

It was created by parents of an autistic child. Based on their own experiences after diagnosis, they felt that there was a strong need to bring the autism community together to access specialist information, advice, products and services.

Where is it?

The Autism Show takes place in the three most populous cities in the UK to make the event as accessible to as many people as possible. The venues are ExCeL London, the NEC Birmingham and EventCity Manchester.

When is it?

In 2017, The Autism Show runs in London on Fri 16th and Sat 17th June, in Birmingham on Fri 23rd and Sat 24th June and in Manchester on Fri 30th June and Sat 1st July.

What are the open times?

All shows are open from 10am to 5pm on the Friday and 10am to 4.30pm on the Saturday.

How many years has it been running for?

This is the seventh year we have organised The Autism Show in London. The event is in it’s fifth year in Manchester and it’s third year in Birmingham.

How easy is it to get to?

The venues have been chosen for their ease of access.

ExCeL London is located 10 minutes from Canary Wharf in the East of London. The venue is served by a DLR station and is best approached by taking the London Underground’s Jubilee Line from central London to Canning Town, changing onto the DLR and alighting at Prince Regent station. Enter the venue through the glass doors, walk for one minute along a wide corridor then turn right at the end. Walk for one more minute and the entrance into The Autism Show will be on your right-hand side, signed Hall N10.

NB On Saturday only, TFL are carrying out maintenance and repair work to the DLR train line between Canning Town and the venue, ExCeL London. We recommend that you take the Jubilee Line from central London to Canning Town and take the rail replacement bus service from outside Canning Town station heading towards Beckton. Leave the bus at the second stop, Prince Regent station, which is located beside the venue, ExCeL London. The bus journey will take less than 10 minutes. When you leave the bus, walk towards Prince Regent station and into the venue ahead of you. Enter the venue through the glass doors, walk for one minute along a wide corridor then turn right at the end. Walk for one more minute and the entrance into The Autism Show will be on your right-hand side, signed Hall N10. Clearly marked Autism Show staff will be present at both ends of the bus journey, Canning Town and Prince Regent, to help you if needed.

Alternatively ExCeL London is easily accessed by road from the M25, M11, A406 and A13. For Sat Nav purposes, the venue recommends using postcode E16 1FR. Please park immediately below the venue, in Zone 8 of the Orange Car Park. This is the closest parking area to the show entrance. Once parked, walk through the entrance signed “ICC” and take the escalator or lift to the level above. Walk straight ahead for one minute and the entrance into The Autism Show will be on your right hand side, signed Hall N10.

The NEC is in the perfect location for car travel – 8 miles east of Birmingham city centre, and at the heart of the UK motorway network. With 16,500 spaces available we’ve got plenty of room for you. Follow the electronic signage or directions provided by the traffic team to get you to the North car park which is being used for the show. Once you’ve parked you can either take a free shuttle bus which will drop you off at Atrium 2 or walk to the halls using our sign posted footpaths. Enter through Atrium 2 Main Entrance and The Autism Show is in Hall 8 directly in front of you. Disabled parking can be found inside Hall 16 immediately outside Atrium 2, which is accessible via Gate G3.

EventCity is located opposite the Trafford Centre just 15 minutes from Manchester city centre. The Autism Show takes place in hall 1 which is the first hall on your left when you enter the venue from the car park. It is conveniently located close to junctions 9 and 10 on the M60, making it very accessible to car users. There are over 3,000 free car-parking spaces on-site.

Who is it for?

The event is for anyone who lives and works with autism on a daily basis or may wish to know more about the condition. Our main visitors are parents, carers, teaching professionals, healthcare professionals, local authority professionals, and individuals on the autism spectrum.

How many people visit?

Over 4,500 people visit the event in London, and over 3,000 visit in Birmingham and Manchester.

What can I find there?

Suppliers exhibiting products and services; practical workshops; in depth discussions and presentations; autistic adults speaking about their experiences; renowned academics discussing their research; public figures discussing their experiences of being a parent of a child with autism; one to one clinics hosted by specialist professionals; and a host of interactive and thought-provoking special features.

Is it suitable for me to bring an autistic child or adult?

That’s a diffcult question for us to answer. You know that person’s needs most. If they have acute sensory issues we would not recommend the exhibition to visit as it can get very busy and noisy, like any other popular public place. However we do have families attending with autistic children and adults on the spectrum visiting and also speaking at the event. We try to make the event as accessible as possible to those on the spectrum by having wider than usual aisles, clear signage, dimmed lighting and a quiet room available.

Is a Quiet Room available?

Yes, we have a Quiet Room, please visit the onsite Organiser’s Office if you need to use it.

How much are tickets?

The standard adult ticket price is £14 plus a £1.50 booking fee in advance. Alternatively you can pay on the door but it is more expensive at £18. For more information on ticketing click on the “Book Tickets” tab at the top of the website.

What is The National Autistic Society's involvement in the show?

The National Autistic Society do not own The Autism Show but are the principle partners of the event. This means that they work with the organisers to produce an event which meets the needs of as many people in the autism community as possible.